Display device



May 13, 1941. BUZZA DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1939 $420,566 A; BUZZAAZTQANEY Patented May 13, 1941 UNETED STATilfi twili ht? @FFEQE DESELAYDEVICE George E. Buzza, Los Angeles, Calif. Application December 11,1939, Serial No. 308,648

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a display device.

In the merchandising of various goods and particularly such items ofmerchandise as greeting cards and gift cards it is desirable to displaythe cards so that the faces of the cards may be easily read and so thatthe cards may be conveniently removed from a supporting rack withoutdisturbing the other cards in the rack. It is also desirable to providestorage spaces directly associated with the cards being displayedwhereby additional cards of a particular type or number may be instantlyobtained in the event that they are required either for replenishing thedisplay stock or filling an order. It is the principal object of thepresent invention, therefore, to provide a display rack which willpresent a large number of cards to view, insuring that the front facesof the cards may be completely legible without removing them from therack, and further providing means whereby storage compartments may bequickly opened adjacent to a particular card so that other cards may beobtained, at the same time insuring that when the compartments areclosed the rack will be restored to its original sightly appearance.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a rack supporting aplurality of display shelves superimposed one upon the other and mountedso that the goods displayed upon them will not obstruct the View on anypart of the rack, the structure being further provided with pivotalmountings for the shelves whereby the separate shelves may be swung to aposition alfording access to storage compartments in the rear thereof.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure l is a view in vertical elevation showing the rack embodying thefeatures of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in central vertical section through the rack showingthe arrangement of the various shelves and compartments.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical section showing the shelfconstruction and the manner in which the shelves move to disclose astorage compartment.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l and H indicate the sidewalls of the rack of which the present invention is concerned. Theseside walls are substantially in the shape of rightangle triangles. Theirbottom edges receive a floor l2 upon which the structure rests and thevertical back edges of the sides receive a back wall l3. This wall isremovable in part. A horizontal molding M is disposed across the top ofthe back wall l3 and from one side wall to the other for a purpose to behereinafter described, and a vertical facing board i5 is disposed acrossthe forward edge of the bottom wall l2 and from one side wall to theother. The forward edges of the sides ill and II are inclined atsubstantially 15 degrees to the horizontal face and shelf structures itare disposed between the sides in and H and are arranged in graduatedspaced relation the length of the inclined edges of the side wall andbetween the two side walls since it is desirable that the shelves be ofdifferent height to accommodate merchandise of different dimensions.These shelf structures, as more particularly shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawing, comprise a floor l?! which receives pivot pins l8 extending infrom the side walls and engaging the members so that they will swing.Attention is directed to the fact that as arranged the floors ii aredisposed at an angle to the edge l9 of the side walls, which angle isless than a right angle. Secured to the backs of the floor members llare back panels 26 which are disposed at right angles to the plane ofthe floors. These back panels extend upwardly and their upper edgesterminate directly beneath the lower forward edges of the floor ll ofthe next succeeding shelf structure. Extending at right angles to thefloor ll and along the front edge thereof is a strip 2! which is held bya hook-shaped clip 22. This clip is secured in position by screws 23.The strip 2i is here indicated as being made of glass so that thevisibility of the lower portion of the merchandise will not be impaired.Secured to the side walls iii and l l and in the same plane normallyassumed by the floors ll of the shelf structures it are stop or guidestrips 24. The forward edges of these strips, as indicated at 25,provide an abutment for the rear edges of the floor members ll. Thiswill limit the rearward swinging movement of the shelves from analigning position. The upper faces 2% of the strips 24 provide guidefaces and supports for the back element 21 of a compartment, whichincludes a floor 28. The floor 28 is hinged to the back panel 2% of ashelf structure it by the hinge 29 and is free to swing toward aposition of alignment with the back panel 28 when the back panel isdrawn forwardly, as will be hereinafter described. Finger holds 30 areformed in the back panel to facilitate in drawing the panel forwardly.Disposed adjacent to the uppermost shelf I6 is a compartment 3! formedby a floor 32 and a wall 7 date a stock of cards 3d as indicated in Fig,2 of the drawing. It will be seen that the cards may be viewedcompletely while supported at a convenient angle of visibility. In theevent that additional cards are to be required from storage a particularshelf is drawn forwardly in the directionof the arrow (1, as indicatedin Fig. 3. As this takes place the compartment floor. 28' is also. drawnforwardly and lifted. This permits access to the compartment over thetop of the back wall 38 of ashelf and beneath the fioorof the shelfabove it. After the merchandise has-been removed the back panel as maybe swung rearwardly, thus forcing the compartment formed by the members.21 and 28 rearwardly along the guide strips 24- so that the shelfstructure will be again restored to its normal position and will beheldin position until moved again. 7

It will thus be seen that the display rack here disclosed provides aconvenient visible display for a large number of cards or other similararticles, and makes it possible for them to be observed completelywithout handling of the stock, at the same time providing convenientstorage space for the articles on display.

WhileI have shown the preferred form ofmy inventionas now known to me,it will be understood that various changes may be made in combination,construction and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art,without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim. and desire to secure.by

1. A display device comprising a base structure. including verticallydisposed parallel side members. having inclined forward edges, aplurality of shelf structures disposed between said side-members andarranged at the angle of, the inclination of 'the forward edges, saidshelf structures each comprising a 'fioor element disposed at an angleto the horizontal, a back panel extending upwardly and disposedat rightangles to the, floor element, the upper edge of the backpanelterminating at a point beneath the forward edge of. the floorelement thereabove, means pivotally connecting. the forward edges of thefloor elements. with relation to saidv side members, a

Letters, Patent is:

stop in the rear of each of said back panels limiting the rearwardswinging movement of the units, a compartment disposed in the rear ofeach shelf unit and accessible when the shelf unit is swung forwardlyupon its pivot, said compartment comprising a floor member hinged to theback panel, a back wall carried at the rear edge shelf to supportarticles to be displayed, a stor-.

age compartment being formed in the rear of said back wall andcomprising a floor member pivoted at its forward end to the back of theback wall and having an upwardly projecting rear wall at the rear andfree end thereof, and. guides for the free ends of said compartmentfloors and disposed substantially in the plane of the shelf whereby whenthe back wall carried by the shelf is' swung forwardly from beneath theshelf disposed thereabove the compartment floor will be drawn forwardlyto dispose stored articles thereon in-anaccessibleposition to be reachedthrough the opening between the upper free end of the back wall and theshelf thereabove.

3-. A display device, comprising a base structure including verticallydisposed parallel side members having inclined forward edges, aplurality of shelf structures disposed between said side members andarranged-at substantially the angle of the inclination of theforwardedges, said shelf, structures each comprising a floor element disposedat an angle to the, horizontal, a back panel extending upwardly anddisposed at right angles to the floor element, the upper edgeof the backpanel terminating at a: point beneath the forward edge of the floorelement thereabove, means pivotally connecting; the forward edges. ofthe floor elements withrelation-to said sidemembers', a stop in'the rearof each of said backpanels; limiting the rearward, swingingv movement ofthe units, and a compartment disposed inthe:

rear of. each shelf unit and accessible when the shelf unit isswungforwardly upon its pivot, said compartment comprising a floor memberhinged to the back panel and a back wall carriedzat the. rear edge ofthe floor member.

GEORGE E. BUZZA.

